Friday, November 04, 2016

I Hope You Are Not Hypocritical, Rabbi Wernick

The CEO of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi Steven C. Wernick writes:

What’s the big deal about Israeli and Diaspora Jews, including myself, deciding to join with Women of the Wall on Wednesday to exercise our right to pray and read Torah in a women's prayer service at the Western Wall and in a mixed prayer service in the Western Wall plaza?The big deal is that, as part of the thousands-year journey of the Jewish people, we turn east when we pray, no matter our geography. Jerusalem, the Kotel and the Temple Mount mean for us what they mean for all Jews – hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that Jewish wandering and persecution will end. Hope that we will again lihiyot am hofshi b'artzeinu - be a free people in our ancestral homeland. Hope that redemption will be at hand and the Jewish People will be given an opportunity, through a Jewish state, to practice the ideals, values, belief and traditions that have not only ensured our survival, but have nurtured our thriving.

"Hope"?

But, God forbid, not hoping for the reconstructing of the Temple and revitalizing the Temple service, correct?And no breaking in to the Temple Mount with Torah scrolls to pray in an egalitarian minyan there, correct?And no criticism of Islamic fundamentalism in harming Jews who do not pray (due to the status quo restrictions which you do not protest)?Or do you?Do you follow this Conservative permission to enter?Rabbi Wernick, you have learned this in Tractate Sotah, for sure:

King Jannai said to his wife', 'Fear not the Pharisees and those who are not Pharisees but the hypocrites who ape the Pharisees; because their deeds are the deeds of Zimri but they expect a reward like Pinchas'.

I hope you are not hypocritical.Jewish identity in an active fashion within the Temple Mount is a civil rights issue, is a lawful one, actually, but is limited by government policy and judicial weakness.We could use your support: vocal, lobbying.Or maybe you and your fellow activists would join a break-in with Torah scrolls?

We have returned...A (shofar) calls out on the Temple MountIn the Old City.

And you added, too:

The Kotel belongs to all of the Jewish people - in all of our diversity.

You can be in all your diversity. But a national monument, not to mention a religious one, is not altered to fit each and every diversity. Extra space can always be made but why do you demand to alter what has existed for centuries, by people who come daily, every day, every hour, which is, at least as regards the WOWers, once a month for an hour? Is that a fair demand? One to act in a direct action way? And to ignore other Jews' own diversity?^

About Me

American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.